Chapter 21: Human Gender Divides into Five Types

Jiao Ma's complexion was a little better today, with a bit more color, and she looked more lively.

However, after learning what happened last night in Dongqu Dayuan, if Jiao Ba hadn't stopped her, Jiao Ma would have almost dragged her injuries back. Even though Aunt Ling and the others didn't tell us, the incident at Dongqu Dayuan caused a huge stir last night; the hospital's surroundings were filled with school faculty and relatives, and as they chatted, the news spread.

After Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi answered a few of Jiao Ma's questions, they said little; the most talkative was Qu Xiangyang, who described last night's events in vivid detail.

"Since the earlier theft case, the residents on the first and second floors have taken protective measures, some adding door locks. As for those on the fourth and fifth floors, they originally felt safer, but now it seems they have figured out this psychology. The more you think living higher is safer, the more they target residents on higher floors. The cause of this incident, it seems, is that they saw the honor board posted in the Biological Science Institute, learned that Brother Jiao secured a national natural science fund of over a million this year, and also learned that something had happened on your side, with only two children at home, so they set their sights on your family."

"We can't possibly use all the granted fund ourselves; those are allocated to project research topics!" Jiao Ma said, her tone not very good.

"But those people don't think so; there are plenty who get rich by applying for funds." Qu Xiangyang shrugged, then, suddenly inspired, said eagerly: "I heard they investigated through the night; with several senior figures stationed in the compound, they actually got some results. The thefts a month ago were said to have yielded nothing, but actually someone blocked the investigation; this time it can't be blocked. The mastermind lives in Building A; his family has connections—his uncle is the vice president who handles admissions and employment at the school."

Qu Xiangyang loves gossiping about big shots; he's not afraid of people giving him a hard time—leveraging his father's influence might not be out of reach, and besides, he's already graduated, so what's there to fear?

"Normally people give each other some face, but this time no one can tolerate it. Several residents in the compound have also secured multi-million funding, displayed on each institute's quarterly honor board, and because of that they became targets; no one feels pleased. Last night an elderly gentleman directly called the vice president. I guess that after they settle the matter in the compound, they'll come to the hospital to make amends with you."

Zheng Tan crouched on the bedding beside Jiao Ma's hospital bed, listening quietly to their conversation. The bedding was brought by Jiao Ba from home, far more comfortable than the hospital's, and pleasant to look at. When Jiao Yuan and the others arrived, Jiao Ma had just finished changing medication, so a nurse wouldn't come for a while.

Listening to Qu Xiangyang, Zheng Tan thought, indeed, without connections or ability, how did they manage to get access control for each building of the family apartments, even the west family area? After this incident, it's unclear what measures the school will take to prevent similar occurrences. Even if they change the access system, Zheng Tan only needs Jiao Ba to make another access card, and he's not worried about that.

"Hey Brother Jiao, I heard the thief was scratched by your cat before even getting through the door, so the thief thought someone was home, fled crawling, leaving his accomplice behind. But probably he ran too fast, slipped on a turn and hit the cement edge of a flowerbed, blood gushing over his head, then was bitten by the Bull Terrier belonging to Uncle Yan, which tore a piece of flesh from his leg. This Bull Terrier from Yan's family has finally become famous; you didn't see it…"

After hearing Qu Xiangyang's account, Jiao Ba glanced at Zheng Tan, who was squatting on the mattress, eyes half‑closed as if napping. Knowing how to conceal his shortcomings and downplay himself is a good thing; some spotlight isn't necessary to chase.

The few of them chatted and laughed, and the atmosphere shed yesterday's heaviness; Jiao Ma was no longer as anxious as when she first heard the news.

Qu Xiangyang offered to help look after the Jiao family's two children for a few days, but Jiao Ba politely declined.

After Qu Xiangyang left, Jiao Ma asked about the reason for refusing his help with the children.

"I'm planning to ask Wei Leng, so both you and I can be at ease; that little Qu kid puts all his energy into games, and he'll probably end up playing games with Jiao Yuan."

Zheng Tan nodded inwardly; it was indeed possible, and that guy, when gaming, is indifferent to everything around him. Relying on him to watch the kids is less reliable than doing it himself!

By contrast, Wei Leng does inspire more confidence; as long as he watches the house at night, he can be free to go anywhere during the day, so he should have time. But how's Wei Leng's progress on the investigation? It's been so long, and the case is still unsolved.

Zheng Tan was pondering Wei Leng's investigation when the door of the partition rattled.

Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi hurriedly stuffed Zheng Tan into a backpack, then each sat back on their small chairs, pretending nothing had happened, though their faces were overly solemn. Jiao Ma smiled and shook her head.

The visitor was Xiao Zhuo; she had also come to pay a visit after hearing about the incident in the compound.

Jiao Ba quickly moved the recliner to let Xiao Zhuo sit down; because of the relationship between his cat and Xiao Zhuo, whenever they went to the Physics Institute to borrow equipment, Father Buddha's attitude had always been good. Even without a smile, he didn't wear that dead‑cold stare of before.

Seeing Xiao Zhuo, Zheng Tan stopped staying hidden in the backpack, hopped out and leapt onto the hospital bed, squatting on the soft mattress; this was far more comfortable than the backpack.

"Hey, Hei Tan, sneaking over?"

Xiao Zhuo wasn't very surprised to see Zheng Tan here; she even smiled, gently tapping his head with a finger.

The conversation centered on Zheng Tan, so Xiao Zhuo and Jiao Ma talked a bit more.

Jiao Ma breathed a sigh of relief; without the topic of her own Hei Tan, she wouldn't have much to say. They didn't know the specifics of Xiao Zhuo's situation, but could guess some things and felt sorry for her—she was one of the three aces under 'Father Buddha' at the Physics Institute, with a boundless future. Recently the institute has a major project; if Xiao Zhuo joins, she'll have a strong bargaining chip later. Yet this incident happened at such a time, and Xiao Zhuo decided to keep the child she conceived during a radiation experiment, a child whose health isn't even guaranteed. Sigh, today's youth!

Xiao Zhuo didn't stay long; after chatting for a while, she slipped out wearing her loose coat.

"Xiao Zhuo... what a pity!" Because Jiao Yuan and the others were present, Jiao Ma couldn't be too explicit.

"Aunt Zhu, do you have a baby?" Jiao Yuan asked.

"Hmm." Jiao Ma didn't want to say more. After this talk she was a bit tired, yet still couldn't fall asleep.

Jiao Ba thought for a moment, then said to Jiao Yuan, "Speaking of the baby, there's something you definitely don't know."

"What is it?"

Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi looked at Jiao Ba curiously, Zheng Tan as well. However, Zheng Tan was already mentally prepared for the phrase "Let me tell you..."

"Let me tell you..." Jiao Ba took a sheet of manuscript paper, speaking while doodling on it.

Sure enough. Zheng Tan tugged at his ear.

Although hearing the phrase "Let me tell you" was a bit annoying, Zheng Tan was still very interested in the topic Jiao Ba was discussing.

After all these years together, Jiao Ma could already guess what Jiao Ba would say, smiling and shaking her head; she just wanted to see the two children's reactions later.

"We humans don't develop in a single step; we go through many stages. Take the baby you just mentioned as an example: while in the mother's womb, the baby also passes through several developmental stages. For boys like Jiao Yuan, at the earliest embryonic stage, they're actually quite similar to girls."

Zheng Tan, Jiao Yuan: "!!"

If one had to describe Zheng Tan and Jiao Yuan's expressions now, it would be like watching someone eat feces.

Jiao Ba ignored their reactions and continued: "Although the start is similar to girls, during subsequent growth there are five gender‑transition checkpoints."

Jiao Ba drew a "Y" on the manuscript. He explained that the sex‑determining chromosome will emit a signal at the appropriate time; after that signal sets the direction of growth, the subsequent stages trigger a cascade of hormonal reactions. In each stage, the relevant hormones emit gender‑transition signals, guiding the embryo from female to male development. Throughout the five checkpoints, any error at any point could very likely cause the embryo to shift toward female development...

Jiao Ba kept explaining, but by then the two children plus a cat were already in a stunned state.

What would a boy think when told he actually changed from a girl?

Dammit, this can't be real... can it?!

"I'm a man! A real man!" Jiao Yuan, unable to care about anything else, argued, almost pulling down his pants to brandish his weapon.

"Yes, you're a boy, no one knows that better than us. I'm just stating this normal fact; it's a stage change, a normal transformation that everyone goes through!" Jiao Ba said seriously.

Jiao Yuan still wore a constipated look; Zheng Tan wasn't much better—a cat's facial expressions aren't as varied as a human's, and being black, others could only see his face looking a bit odd, unaware that Zheng Tan's inner alpaca was already galloping again.

"A boy is a boy, a girl is a girl! Either male or female, how could this happen?" Jiao Yuan was conflicted; indeed, biological changes and evolution are always a mysterious and damn‑crazy topic.

"Correction: actually, many researchers now believe gender isn't just male and female; there are at least five types: male, predominantly male, androgynous, predominantly female, female."

Zheng Tan: "..." The alpaca inside him kept galloping.

"Thus, sometimes gender identification, without surgery, a person with a Y chromosome might not appear male; although the probability is extremely low, it's possible, and one cannot deny it—scientific rigor is required."

Jiao Ba's latter sentence made Zheng Tan's tangled thoughts pause.

He suddenly thought of something...

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